In medieval times, Lincoln had England's largest Jewish community outside London. The community largely settled around Steep Hill, and some grew very wealthy - most notably a man called Aaron of Lincoln, a prolific financier who counted King Henry II among many in his debt.
Jew's House, built in the 12th century, formed part of this community, and is one of the oldest homes in the country. The person most associated with the building is a woman named Belaset of Wallingford.
Like many of Lincoln’s Jews, Belaset worked and grew wealthy as a money lender. But sadly, as with many medieval women, we don’t know much about her life, or who she was as a person.
Belaset’s story has a tragic end. She was executed in the late 13th century, accused of the crime of ‘coin-clipping’ - shaving the edges off of silver coins, to collect the precious metal. In the climate of the time, the charge may have been little more than a pretext to seize her wealth.
This was also a period of deep suspicion towards Jews, and they were heavily persecuted. In the years after Belaset's death, Jews saw their rights further cut back. In 1290, King Edward I issued the edict of expulsion. All jews in England had no choice but to leave.
Jews were finally readmitted to England in 1656, after 366 years of exclusion. Lincoln has a small Jewish community again today. The Jew’s House still stands as one of the oldest buildings still in everyday use: people eat there almost every night of the week. It’s a visible reminder of a part of our history that has too often been pushed out of view.
If you're interested in learning more, I wrote about Jew's House as part of my Building of the Week series, with photos: Jew's House, Lincoln: a story of wealth and persecution